The Detroit Red Wings delivered one of their most thrilling and energetic performances of the season, defeating their Original Six and Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2. The lively atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena, fueled by a strong presence of Leafs fans, seemed to bring out the best in the Wings. Detroit played with a lead for much of the game, with defenseman Jeff Petry contributing two goals. Petry emphasized the importance of this win, noting how the Wings had recently been on the losing end of close games they felt they played well enough to win.
In net, Ville Husso got the start due to Cam Talbot being unavailable after re-aggravating a lower-body injury. With Alex Lyon also sidelined, Husso took advantage of the opportunity, finishing with 23 saves and earning his first NHL win since December 12, 2023. Husso made several key stops, including a breakaway denial on Mitch Marner in the third period. The Wings were also without Marco Kasper, who was sick, leading to adjustments in their lineup. Despite these challenges, the team displayed great resilience and cohesion throughout the game.
The game began with the Wings quickly generating energy and earning a power play in the opening minute. They capitalized on this opportunity when Petry’s shot from the blue line found its way past Toronto’s goaltender, Joseph Woll, with the help of a screen from Michael Rasmussen. Toronto thought they had tied the game when Mitch Marner scored, but a successful offside challenge by Detroit kept their 1-0 lead intact. The atmosphere was electric, with both fanbases loudly supporting their teams, and the energy remained high throughout the game, even as the Leafs increased pressure in the second period.
Toronto managed to tie the game at 1-1 midway through the second period with a power-play goal from Auston Matthews, assisted by Marner. However, the Wings quickly regained the lead before the period ended, thanks to a shot from Moritz Seider, which was set up by Patrick Kane and Andrew Copp. The Wings were assertive in their play, with Kane especially contributing to the offensive chances. Seider’s goal, which came with just 17.8 seconds remaining in the second period, gave Detroit a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.
In the third period, the Wings held onto their lead, with Husso continuing to make crucial saves. Lucas Raymond sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final moments, making it 4-2. Husso praised the atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena, calling it “unreal” and acknowledging the strong support from the fans. This win was particularly significant for the Wings, not just for the result but for the way they responded to recent losses and battled through adversity to secure the victory. With this win, Detroit began a stretch of seven of eight games at home, setting a positive tone for the upcoming matches.
